Agricultural films are protective films that are placed over soil, wrapped around fodder or covered over greenhouses. Agricultural films offer several advantages such as reducing soil compaction and erosion, increasing soil temperature, providing nutrients, suppressing the growth of weeds, supporting seed germination, and protecting against UV rays. Agricultural films can be classified based on their applications as: greenhouse film, mulch film, and silage film. They are generally manufactured using polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer (EVOH) among other materials. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) dominate the overall agricultural films market. Due to capacity additions of PE in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, the prices of these films have relatively reduced.

Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is expected to be the fastest growing film type growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2013 to 2019. LLDPE and LDPE together accounted for more than 78% of the total demand in 2012. LDPE film is expected to reach nearly USD 2059 million by 2019. Reclaimed films are widely used in developed countries due to environmental regulations regarding use of plastics. The consumption of reclaimed film is expected to reach nearly 315 kilo tons by 2019. The other film types such as PVC, EVOH, etc. are expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% between 2013 and 2019. HDPE films find limited applications as they are known for their rigid characteristics. HDPE films accounted for more than 7% of the total market in 2012.

Agricultural films are predominantly used in greenhouse and mulching applications. Greenhouse and mulching applications together accounted for more than 85% of the overall market in 2012. Greenhouse application is expected to reach more than 2768 kilo tons by 2019. Mulching and silage application is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% and 5.4% respectively, from 2013 to 2019. The growing demand for vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, etc. is expected to drive the market for greenhouse films especially in Asia Pacific. It is expected to be fastest growing application during the forecast period, expected to reach USD 4145 million by 2019. In terms of revenue, silage films are expected to grow at an estimated CAGR of 7.9% between 2013 and 2019.

The consumption of agricultural film in North America was nearly 196 kilo tons in 2012. The European market is highly saturated due to decreasing arable land and shift towards organic farming, with demand expected to reach 826 kilo tons by 2019. China is expected to be fastest growing market growing at an estimated CAGR of 6% from 2013 to 2019. The growing demand for biofuels in developed countries is expected to drive the market in the coming future. Rest of Asia accounted for nearly 8% of the market in 2012. In terms of revenue, the Middle East and Africa market is expected to reach USD 920 million by 2019.

The market for agricultural film is highly fragmented with no clear leader. Top five manufacturers accounted for nearly 23% of the overall market in 2012. There are large numbers of small manufacturers in China with very small market share. Some of the major industry participants include Ab Rani Plast Oy, AEP Industries, Armando Alvarez, Britton Group, Berry Plastics, BASF, British Polyethylene Industries, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemicals, Novamont, Kuraray, Hyplast NV and Trioplast among others. Biodegradable films have emerging opportunities in the next five years. High cost of disposal and adverse impact of plastics on environment has led to shift towards biodegradable and bio based films.

Growing demand for food coupled with depleting arable land is expected to drive the global agricultural films market between 2014 and 2020. Protective films that are positioned over soil, covered over greenhouses or wrapped around the fodder are known as agricultural films. Agricultural films provide a wide range of benefits such as reducing erosion and soil compaction, providing nutrients, increasing soil temperature, supporting seed germination, suppressing the growth of weeds, and protecting against UV rays.

This report focuses on estimates and forecasts of the global agricultural film market in terms of volume (kilo tons) and revenue (USD million) from 2013 to 2019. The estimates and forecasts for this study are considered for consumption (by region), film type, and application by considering 2012 as the base year. Various authenticated sources were contacted during the study on agricultural films market. Several key industry leaders were interviewed during the course of the study. The report analyzes value chain components in order to study value addition at each stage. The study discusses major drivers and restraints for the agricultural film market and emerging opportunities in the next five years.

The report offers key drivers and restraining factors along with their impact on the agricultural films market in the near future. The study also highlights new avenues for the leading industry participants in the agricultural films market. The report offers company market share of major players operating in the market as of 2012. The company market share helps understand business strategies of leading companies present in the market. The report also provides market attractiveness analysis to understand the potential of various applications in the near future.

This study also includes the segmentation of the agricultural films market on the basis of raw material such as Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) films, Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) films, Ethylene Butyl Acrylate (EBA)/Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) films, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) films, reclaimed films, and others. The major applications analyzed in this report include greenhouse, mulching, and silage. Each product segment and application is further analyzed on the basis of regional consumption including North America, Central and South America, Europe, China, Rest of Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa from 2013 to 2019. The geographical segmentation helps in identifying the major market for agricultural films.

The report uses analytical tools such as Porter’s Five Forces model to provide an in-depth analysis of the overall competition in the agricultural films market. This model helps provide detailed analysis of the impact of buyers, suppliers, substitutes, new entrants, substitutes and degree of competition in the global agricultural films market. The study also includes value chain analysis, which provides information by studying the various components in the agricultural films market. Value chain analysis offers the degree of integration exhibited by various leading companies operating in the market. Using this analytical tool, major raw material manufacturers and suppliers are identified. Important supply agreements signed among companies are also mentioned in detail in the report. Value chain analysis provides information on the distribution channel employed by major players in the market.

The report also includes profiles of major market participants such as AEP Industries Inc., Ab Rani Plast Oy, Armando Alvarez Group, Berry Plastics Corporation, BASF SE, British Polythene Industries PLC, ExxonMobil Chemical, Britton Group, Group Barbier, The Dow Chemical Company, Hyplast NV, Kuraray Group, Novamont S.p.A., Plastika Kritis S.A. and Trioplast AB among others. The profiles of the company include market overview, financial overview, business strategy, SWOT analysis and recent developments of the major players present in the agricultural film market. Thus, these company profiles can help companies gain competitive advantage which in turn further aids in capturing larger market share by formulating suitable business strategies.